After Lin Wan'er left, an uneasy feeling lingered in my heart, as if a heavy stone weighed it down.
Sure enough, a few days later, Li Dahai hurriedly summoned me to his office, his face full of worry.
"Zhou Hao, we've got a problem! Our sales are declining again, even worse than before!"
My heart skipped a beat, and I immediately guessed who was behind this.
That woman—Lin Wan'er—she really doesn't know when to stop!
I asked Li Dahai to gather the latest market feedback. After thoroughly analyzing it, I discovered that a sudden surge of negative reviews about our product quality had flooded online platforms over the past few days.
The methods were too familiar. This was undoubtedly Lin Wan'er's company's signature tactic!
"President Li, don't panic. I know what's happening," I said calmly, though a fire burned within me.
"This is clearly an intentional smear campaign. I'll get to the bottom of this!"
I began investigating in secret. Through some reliable channels, I finally uncovered a fatal flaw in Lin Wan'er's company's product.
Their core component had a serious design defect, which had not yet been exposed but was bound to emerge after extended use.
I couldn't help but feel a rush of excitement—this was a golden opportunity!
I immediately shared this discovery with Bai Yao.
Her eyes lit up upon hearing the news. "Zhou Hao, this is a critical piece of intel! We can leverage this flaw to strike back at Lin Wan'er's company."
Bai Yao, being the decisive businesswoman she was, wasted no time. She contacted her media and industry connections and discreetly leaked the information about Lin Wan'er's product flaws.
Over the following days, I pretended nothing was amiss on the surface while secretly laying the groundwork for my counterattack.
I enlisted a few trustworthy colleagues to collect evidence of the defects in Lin Wan'er's products.
Meanwhile, Lin Wan'er seemed to sense something was wrong and grew increasingly uneasy.
She called me several times, her tone alternating between probing and threatening.
But I didn't give anything away, brushing her off with a cold chuckle.
Finally, the moment of reckoning arrived.
When I saw the message on my phone, a smirk formed on my lips.
"President Bai, everything is ready."
Bai Yao's voice carried a hint of excitement from the other end of the line.
"Let the show begin…"
The news spread like wildfire, detonating in the industry. Lin Wan'er's company's product flaws were exposed by major media outlets, causing a public outcry.
Their product sales plummeted, their corporate image took a nosedive, and they found themselves embroiled in a severe PR crisis.
Watching it all unfold, I felt no pity—only unbridled satisfaction.
Anticipating that Lin Wan'er would retaliate in desperation, I had prepared a backup plan in advance.
I collaborated with professional evaluation agencies to conduct comprehensive tests on our own products, publishing the results widely.
The tests revealed that our products were not only of impeccable quality but also outperformed Lin Wan'er's products in several key aspects.
This move—hitting where it hurt most—completely shattered Lin Wan'er's counteroffensive.
She called me, her voice trembling and on the verge of tears.
"Zhou Hao, why are you doing this to me? What kind of deep-seated grudge do we have?"
I sneered. "Lin Wan'er, when you betrayed me back then, did you ever consider this day would come? You thought I wouldn't find out what you did? Let me tell you, this is just the beginning!"
I hung up the phone, feeling an indescribable thrill.
Seeing my colleagues' admiring gazes, a sense of pride swelled within me.
Li Dahai was even more ecstatic, clapping me on the shoulder and announcing on the spot, "Zhou Hao, you're my lucky star! Starting today, you're promoted to Sales Manager, and your salary is doubled!"
When I received my first paycheck, the number "7,800 yuan" stared back at me.
Holding that thin slip of paper, I was overwhelmed with emotion.
In just one month, I had not only taken the first step in my revenge but also achieved financial progress.
At that moment, my phone rang—it was Bai Yao.
"Zhou Hao, congratulations. You did an amazing job!" she said joyfully. "Let's celebrate tonight, shall we?"
I readily agreed.
That evening, in a high-end restaurant, I noticed something different in Bai Yao's gaze.
She gently rested her hand on mine, her voice soft and tender:
"Zhou Hao, do you know how extraordinary you are?"
Her eyes sparkled like the brightest star in the night sky, radiating a mesmerizing light.
She held my hand, and the warmth of her fingertips seeped into my palm. A strange sensation stirred within me.
I knew she didn't just admire my capabilities; there was something deeper—a budding affection.
The flickering candlelight highlighted her delicate features, and I could see the gentle affection in her eyes.
She spoke softly, "Zhou Hao, you're… truly special."
I smiled faintly without replying, instead lightly squeezing her hand in return.
That dinner, we talked about everything—my past, my dreams, my plans for the future.
Bai Yao listened intently, nodding occasionally, her eyes filled with admiration and affection.
I realized she understood me, supported me, and believed in me.
It was a wonderful feeling.
When we left the restaurant, I unexpectedly ran into Liu, Lin Wan'er's secretary.
She stood at the entrance of my ex-girlfriend's company, her face pale and her gaze hollow, like a lifeless shell.
When she saw me, her expression grew even more complicated—a mix of bitterness, resentment, and guilt.
"Well, well, isn't this Secretary Liu? What brings you here to enjoy the night view?" I teased with a smirk, my tone dripping with mockery.
She bit her lip and glared at me but couldn't utter a word.
Once haughty and bossy, she now stood helplessly before me, enduring my ridicule.
"Oh, and do pass a message to your boss for me: The show has only just begun!"
I walked away confidently, leaving Liu alone in the chilly night breeze.